"Desiree's Baby" and "The Birthmark"

In "The Birthmark" Alymer aims to change what mother nature intended. Georgiana, a woman perfect in ever way except for a birthmark on her cheek, is the so-called "victim" of imperfection. Science is described as the miracle worker, the magician if-you-will, of the world in the story. Words containing power and loveliness describe the field of science. One day it will be the controlling power of the universe it seems. However, this story illustrate the major conflict of man versus nature. Georgiana dies as a victim of science. Man ultimately does not and will never completely understand nature. In the search for answers, imperfection should be seen as a blessing but it is seen as a horrible invention in an inevitably mortal world in the story. The questioning of nature almost seems to conflict with religion however never literally stating the conflict.

"Desiree's Baby" ends almost as suddenly as the last Chopin story we read with a large dose of irony. Both stories contain situational irony which is not expected. After being shunned by Armand, Desiree drowns herself and her baby because she can not live with the thought of being of "color" and ruining her family. Armand despise's her and is grateful of her leaving. In the end, after all Desiree has left and he is burning her belongings he finds a note from long ago that was between his parents declaring he, himself, is the one of "color!" His mother had been of "color" therefore it was not Desiree, but himself which had, in his eyes, ruined his namesake. It is a message which stings and is very reminiscent of Brently walking in unexpectantly and Louise dieing of shock in "The Story of an Hour."